Individual Details

Helena Independent Record, Helena, Montana, Thursday, February 10, 1944, Page 3, Col. 1: Montanan Receives Posthumous Honor for Heroism. Marine Corps Gives Silver Star to Mrs. H. Burkholder. Bearcreek, Feb. 10, ---Pvt. Melville M. Burkholder, USMC, son of Mrs. Helen Burkholder of Bearcreek, has been awarded the silver star, posthumously, for gallantry at Vuru, on the Island of Vangunu in the Solomons. Private Burkholder was killed in action July 1, 1943. The citation reads: "For gallantry in action at Vuru village on July 1, displaying courage and imitative at all times, for being credited with locating and killing three well-concealed enemy snipers who had been constantly harassing his platoon, and for disregarding his own safety when his platoon maneuvered to a new position for attack as he voluntarily aided in covering rear guard action. "This bold action, which was responsible for the success of the movement, cost him his life."

Birth	1924	Montana
Death	1 Jul 1943	Vuru, Vangunu, Solomons Islands
Burial		Burial Cemetery: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines

Father	Paul M. Burkholder (1898 - )
Mother	Helen L. Lemmon (1903 - 1974)